High speed binder machine

ABSTRACT

IN A MACHINE FOR THE HIGH SPEED WINDING OF BINDER ABOUT A CABLE, A TENSION CONTROL SYSTEM WHICH COMPRISE STRUCTURAL FEATURES SO AS TO AUTOMATICALLY COMPENSATE FOR THE DIFFERENCE IN SPEED OF ROTATION OF THE BINDER HEAD AND THE BINDER COP I.E. BINDER COP DIAMETER TO PRECISELY MAINTAINING CONSTANT BINDER APPLICATION TENSION AND BY AUTO-   MATICALLY DETECTING BINDER BREAK OR BINDER RUN OUT, TO STOP THE MACHINE BEFORE CABLE DAMAGE OCCURS.

J- W. SCHER HIGH SPEED BINDER MACHINE Jan. 19, 1971 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Sept. 20, 1963 INVENTOR J. m SCHER ATTORNEYS I 1971 J. w. SCHER I3,555,801

HIGH SPEED BINDER MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 20, 1968 J l l ll INVENTOR J. W. SCHER BY MIMI/A4 W ORNEYS Jan. '19, 1971 J. w. scHERHIGH SPEED BINDER MACHINE Filed Sept. 20, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 4

X ixmm INVENTOR W SCHER BY r m T u :3," h t n a? it M ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent 3,555,801 HIGH SPEED BINDER MACHINE Joseph William Scher,Short Hills, N.J., assignor to Weber & Scher Mfg. Co., Inc., Newark, N.J a corporation of New Jersey Filed Sept. 20, 1968, Ser. No. 761,176Int. Cl. B65h 81/08 US. Cl. 57-18 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In amachine for the high speed winding of binder about a cable, a tensioncontrol system which comprises structural features so as toautomatically compensate for the difference in speed of rotation of thebinder head and the binder cop i.e. binder cop diameter to preciselymaintaining constant binder application tension and by automaticallydetecting binder break or binder run out, to stop the machine beforecable damage occurs.

This invention relates to the high speed application of a binder to alength of cable, and more particularly to a tension control systemtherein which automatically compensates for binder tension, andautomatically detects and stops the machine on binder break or binderrun-out.

Pursuant to the invention, the tension control system in the machine isa low inertia, self compensating one which automatically compensates forvariations in the relative speed of the binder head and binder cop whichis a function of binder cop diameter at any time. This system permitssimple and accurate presetting to obtain the desired binder applicationtension which is automatically controlled and maintained constant onoperation of the machine through complete usage of the binder package.Thus the binder can be applied under a constant tension, decreasing thechances of binder break or uneven application of the binder to the cableas may detrimentally affect quality of the product. The system isdesigned to be used for high speed binder application, and can beoperated without requiring careful and continuous observation. Once theinitial presetting has been accomplished (by calibration), the machinecan be stopped and started, binder cop changes made and changes made inthe binder application tension, without the necessity of recalibration.The calibration procedure need only be repeated when a change is made ina given setup (i.e. a change in a cable diameter or binder lay).Additionally, the binder head can be operated for application from thebinder cop under either a constant tension, or, by a mechanicalrealignment, the tensionless application of the binder. Further, thebinder machine has an automatic detection feature whereby it is able todetect binder breaks or binder runouts by means of a contact closure,and stop the machine on detecting such signal, thereby preventing cabledamage. It is highy desirable in cable manufacture to be able to detectand obtain a signal in the form of a contact closure in the even thatthe binder breaks or the binder runs out by virtue of reaching the endof the binder cop. Without such a detection system, either of theseevents can occur and go unnoticed by the machine operator such thatcable consisting of a multiplicity of individual wires will continue topass through the machine but with out bound or held together in a bundleresulting in a spoiled length of cable. Pursuant to the invention, thiscostly problem can be overcome by an automatic detection system on thebinder head which will detect either of the two forementioned events andindicate same by a contact closure and/ or opening which in turn can beused to automatically stop the cable line.

Devices heretofore proposed for this purpose have gen- Patented Jan. 19,1971 erally been objectionable due to their complexity and high cost ofmanufacture and requirement for substantial maintenance. In applying thebinder about the cable, high speed binder machines employed heretoforehave utilized mechanical binder tension systems which are awkward tooperate, required constant surveillance, and had to carry through acomplete run before any changes or adjustments could be made in thetension desired and most important, did not compensate for binder copdiameter change to keep binder tension constant. Further, high speedbinder machines without detection systems permitted binder breaks orhinder run-outs to go undetected by the machine operator, so that cableconsisting of a multiplicity of individual wires, could continue to passthrough the machine without being bound or held together in a bundle,resulting in a spoiled length of cable. These objections in devicesheretofore proposed have been eliminated in the speed binder machine ofthis invention.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters indicate likeparts,

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view, partly broken, showing theapplication system on a high speed binder machine embodying theinvention,

FIG. 2 is a front elevational, partly broken view of the binder tensioncontrol system embodying the invention,

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view thereof, taken at line 33 of FIG. 2,and

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a binder detection system pursuantto the invention, taken at to line 44 of FIG. 2.

As will be seen from the drawings, forming a part hereof, this inventionrelates to a high speed binder machine operating, as will be describedbelow (with reference generally to FIGS. 1 and 2) so that the cable C,which is to be bound, is bound by constant-tension application of thebinder B. The tension control means continuously compares the operatingtension with, and automatically adjusts same to, preset calibratedtension, by means of comparing signals obtained from the speed of thehead spindle and the cop spindle. The signal from DC. tachometergenerator 71 is utilized in the detection system, to automatically stopthe machine on binder run-out or binder break, in order to preventspoilage of the cable.

The high speed binder machine 11 comprises (FIGS. 1 and 2) a framesupport member 12, binder application means 13, tension control means 14(FIG. 2) connection means 15 and 15 (FIG. 1) detection means 16, anddrive means 17 (FIGS. 4 and 2).

The binder application means 13 (FIG. 1) comprises a head spindle member21, a cop spindle member 22, head bearings 23 and 23', and cop bearing24 and 24'. The head spindle member 21 (FIG. 1) is comprised of a headfront portion 25, a head rear portion 26, eyelets 27 and 27', and headscrew 28 (spaced circumferentially apart, at intervals of, for example,The cop spindle member 22 (FIG. 1) comprises a cop forward portion 29, acop rearward portion 30, a binder latch 31, a binder core 32, and abinder spindle 33 comprising binder spool 34 and binder B.

The tension control means (FIG. 2) comprises an eddycurrent coupling 41(with integrally attached AC. motor and tachometer therein) a tachometergenerator 42, a gear box 43, and connector means 44 interconnecting thegear box 43 and the tachometer generator 42.

The connection means (FIGS. 1 and 2) comprises (for connection means15), head pulleys 51 and 51, head belt 52, head shaft 53, gear pulleys54 and 54', gear belt 55, and gear shaft 56 and (for connection means15) cop pulleys 57 and 57, cop belt 58, cop shaft 59, coupling pulleys60 and 60', coupling belt 61, and coupling shaft 62.

The detection means 16 (FIG. 4) is comprised of a D.C. tachometergenerator 71, detector pulleys 72 and 72, detector belt 73, detectorrelay and detector switch connected to cable 74.

The drive means 17 (FIG. 2) comprises a drive member 81 (which can beeither a motor or a mechanical speed variator, for example), driverpulleys 82 and 82', and a driver belt 83.

In operation (FIGS. 14) for example, the cable C is taken up in a givendirection by passing it through the hollow cop spindle member 22. Inmachine rest condition, the binder B is threaded from the binder spindle33 through the eyelets 27 and 27 and is applied to the cable C. Thedesired binder application tension is set by means of a control device(for example, a tension potentiometer) under stalled conditions prior tothe start of the run. If it is the initial run with a given setup agiven cable diameter and a given binder lay) the operator then adjusts acalibrator device (for example, a calibration potentiometer) to a nullposition. Once the calibration has been accomplished for a particularsetup, the machine can be stopped and started, binder cop changes made,and changes made in the binder application tension Without the necessityof recalibration, because the tension is automatically controlled andmaintained by the tension control means 14 pursuant to the invention.

On actuation of the drive means 17 (FIG. 2), through the head belt 52the head spindle member 21 rotates on the bearings 23 and 23 withrespect to the frame support member 12, and by virtue of the movement ofthe cable C through the machine (in the direction indicated in FIG. 1for example) and rotational application of the binder B by the headspindle member 21 to the cable C, the cop spindle member 22 rotates onits bearings 24 and 24 with respect to the head spindle member 21. Asthe binder spindle 33 builds down in diameter, due to use of binder Bfrom binder spool 34, the speed of the cop spindle member 22 increasesproportionately, and the torque decreases while the head spindle membermaintains a constant driven speed. In order to maintain the tension inthe binder B constant with decreasing binder spindle diameter, it isnecessary to trim or reduce the breaking torque applied to the copspindle member 22 by reducing excitation of the eddy current coupling41. This is accomplished by use of the tension control means 14 (FIG.2). As the speed of the cop spindle member 22 increases, the increase isreflected directly (through the connection means 15'), to the couplingshaft 62 of the eddy current coupling 41 (FIG. 4, comprising, forexample, an internal A.C. induction motor, tachometer generator and eddycurrent clutch). This reflected increase in the speed of cop spindlemember 22 increases the rotation of coupling shaft 62 and therebygenerates a signal in the internal generator of the eddy currentcoupling 41 which increases proportionate to the increased speed in thecop spindle member 22. The speed of the head spindle member 21 isreflected directly (through the connection means 15) to the gear box 43(FIG. 2) and from the gear box 43 (through the tachometer shaft 45) tothe tachometer generator 42. Thus, there is a signal from the tachometergenerator 42 which is a function of the speed of the head spindle member21 at any given instant, and a signal from the internal generator of theeddy current coupling which is a function of the speed of the copspindle member 22 at any given instant. These two signals are comparedby the control, and the net difference is negatively applied to thesumming junction of the control to trim on top of the basic desiredtension set by the tension potentiometer. Considered in terms ofdifference in potential of the signals generated, as the cop spindlemember 22 builds down in diameter (due to loss of binder B) its speed(and its signal) relative to that of the head spindle member 21,increases, thus increasing the difference in potential. This increaseddifference in potential applied negatively to the control summingjunction will low- 4 er the torque in the coupling to keep the bindertension constant at the desired preset value.

The detection means (FIG. 4) operates, for example, by means of thedetector pulley 72 which is seated on the same coupling shaft 62 as isthe coupling pulley 60 (FIG. 2), and which moves therefore at the samespeed as the speed of the cop spindle member 22 (as reflected throughthe connection means 15'). This detector pulley 72 moves detector pulley72 at the same speed therewith by means of detector belt 73, and thisspeed is reflected through detector shaft 77 to the DC. tachometergenerator 71 and from there the signal is transmitted by a detectorrelay to a detector switch which turns the machine off.

The head spindle member 21 (FIG. 1) may be operated either for theapplication of binder cord under controlled constant tension asdiscussed above, or by positioning screws in openings 35 and removingcop belt 58 (thereby connecting the cop spindle member 22 directly tothe head spindle member 21), for the tensionless application of binderB.

When the head spindle member 21 is operating, and the binder has neitherbroken nor run out, the cop spindle member 22 will be rotating theoutput member of the eddy current coupling 41 in a given direction whichis opposible to the direction of rotation of the input member of theeddy current coupling 41. Under this condition, the detection means 16is arranged such as to block the output signal of the D.C. tachometergenerator 71 and thus prevent energization of the detector relay 74.When the binder B either breaks or runs out, the cop spindle member 22can no longer rotate the output member of the eddy current coupling 41.

As the coupling is energized with the input member rotating in theopposite direction, the cop spindle member 22 will decelerate to zerospeed relative to ground and start to rotate in the opposite direction(i.e. in the same direction as the motor driven input member of the eddycurrent coupling 41). When this occurs, the direction of rotation of theDC. tachometer generator 71 will be reversed, its signal passed, and thedetection relay 74 energized.

The gear box 43 is provided with a reverse lever 48 which enables achange of direction of head spindle rotation.

While the foregoing disclosure of exemplary embodiments is made inaccordance with the patent statues, it is to be understood that theinvention is not to be limited thereto or thereby, the inventive scopebeing defined in the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. A high speed binder machine for winding material to be bound togethercomprising:

(a) a frame support member,

(b) binder application means, for applying the binder to the cable,comprising:

(i) a head spindle member comprising a head body portion, havingopenings and apertures therein, and head eyelet portions, for threadingthe binder therethrough,

(ii) a cop spindle member, comprising a cop body having aperturestherein, a binder spindle member comprising a binder core memberpositioned about said cop body portion, and a binder spindle positionedabout said binder core member comprising a binder spool and binderapplied about said binder spool, and second connection means formaintaining said binder spindle member on said cop body portion,

(iii) head bearing means, positioned between said head spindle memberand said frame support member, to permit relative rotational movementtherebetween, and

(iv) cop spindle bearing means, positioned between said cop spindlemember and said head spindle member, to permit relative rotationalmovement therebetween,

(c) tension control means, for automatically checking and maintaining aconstant tension for application of said binder, comprising (i) an eddycurrent coupling member, having an output shaft and an input shafttherein,

(iii) a tachometer generator member,

(iii) a gear box member,

(iv) third connection means, connecting said gear box member with saidtachometer generator member, and

(v) a coupling motor, connected to said input shaft of said eddy currentcoupling member,

(d) first connection means, interconnecting said binder applicationmeans and said tension control means, comprising (i) a first head pulleymember, seating on said head spindle member,

(ii) ahead shaftmember,

(iii) a second head pulley member, seated on said head shaft member,

(iv) a head belt member, interconnecting said first head pulley memberand said second head pulley member,

(v) fourth connection means, interconnecting said head shaft member withsaid gear box member,

(vi) a first cop pulley member, seated on said cop spindle member,

(vii) a cop shaft member,

(viii) a second cop pulley member, seated on said cop shaft member,

(ix) a cop belt member, interconnecting said first cop pulley member andsaid second cop pulley member, and

(x) fifth interconnection means, interconnecting said cop shaft memberwith said eddy current coupling member,

(e) drive means, for driving said binder application means and (f)detection means, for detecting binder break or run out and stopping saidmachine thereon.

2. In a high speed binder machine as described in claim 1, said fourthconnection means comprising:

a first gear pulley, seated on said head shaft member,

a second gear pulley, seated on a shaft of said gear box member, and

a gear belt, interconnecting said first gear pulley and said second gearpulley.

3. In a high speed binder machine as described in claim 2, said fifthconnection means comprising:

a first coupling pulley, seated on said cop shaft memher,

a second ocupling pulley, seated on said output shaft of said eddycurrent coupling member, and

a coupling belt, interconnecting said first coupling pulley and saidsecond coupling pulley.

4. In a high speed binder machine as described in claim 3, saiddetection means comprising:

a DC. tachometer generator,

a tachometer input shaft,

a sixth connection means connecting said output shaft of said eddycurrent coupling with said input shaft of said D.C. tachmeter generator,

a detector switch, to signal the machine to shut olf due to hinder breakor hinder run out, and

a detector relay, interconnecting said D.C. tachometer generator withsaid detector switch.

5. In a high speed binder machine as described in claim 4, said headspindle member further comprising:

cap screws, positioned in said openings in said cop spindle member, forconnecting said head spindle member with said cop spindle member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,326,220 10/ 1943 Henning et al57-l8 2,334,880 11/1943 Marlow 57-6 2,430,358 11/1947 Merwin et al. 57182,807,129 9/1957 Williams 57-18 2,944,378 7/1960 Crosby et al 57l8X3,236,039 2/1966 Fletcher et a1 5718 3,381,459 5/1968 Vawter 57-18 JOHNPETRAKES, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 57l7. 19

